Kirk Wessler: Like 2007, not quite as good as Missouri

Sunday

Aug 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMAug 31, 2008 at 10:23 AM

Second verse, same as the first. This time, though, at higher levels. Missouri beat Illinois, 52-42, in their football season opener Saturday night; a game that mimicked last year’s showdown at the Edward Jones Dome.

Kirk Wessler

Second verse, same as the first. This time, though, at higher levels.

Missouri beat Illinois, 52-42, in their football season opener Saturday night; a game that mimicked last year’s showdown at the Edward Jones Dome. Once again, Mizzou opened a big lead, then Illinois stormed back and was about to create a chance to win — until an interception return for a touchdown put the game out of reach.

The game lasted almost four hours and left a crowd of 66,441 — a record for a college game at the Jones Dome — wrung out, their voices as exhausted as the players’ bodies.

This year, though, both teams were nationally ranked for the first time in the history of their rivalry. The outcome — especially if Illinois had been able to come all the way back — has national-championship implications.

That wasn’t the case a year ago.

Back then, Mizzou believed it had the chops to be an elite team but had provided no proof. Illinois believed it was much improved after being a program in disarray just two years earlier but needed a measuring stick.

Even after the 2007 game ended, there were questions. Was Missouri as good as it looked, or did the Tigers prevail because they were playing the same old Illini? Was Illinois really a good team, or was that close call the result of Mizzou not being quite as good as hoped?

By season’s end, we knew. Missouri reached a No. 1 national ranking and won the Cotton Bowl. Illinois beat another No. 1 team, Ohio State, and reached the Rose Bowl.

Based on those outcomes and the return of key players, both teams arrived in St. Louis this weekend with raised expectations. Mizzou wants to solidify its standing among the elite, and Illinois wants to move into that fast company.

Saturday, Mizzou lived up to its hype. This is a team of national-championship caliber. They have the whole package — even the defense that was lacking a year ago, despite the 42 points Illinois put on the board.

Missouri sacked Illinois quarterback Juice Williams five times. Seemed like 10. The Tigers intercepted him twice, including one that was run back for the touchdown that put the game out of reach.

The bottom line now, as in 2007: Missouri simply is that much better than Illinois.

Williams is electric. He can transform a looming disaster into the play of the night. He’s quick on his feet and elusive. He never can be counted out.

But Missouri’s Chase Daniel is better.

Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn is a big-time player, with great hands and better moves.

But he’s not as good as Mizzou’s Jeremy Maclin.

Illini coach Ron Zook was full of praise for Missouri, even as he was disappointed with the performance of his own team. He opined that maybe he and his staff had pumped up the Illini too much, trying to make them believe they’re good.

Well, they are good. They’re just not that good yet.

And they’re certainly not as good as Missouri.

“You can’t get behind a team of that caliber like that and expect to come back,” Zook said.
Mizzou was up 45-20 early in the second half before Illinois mounted a wild comeback. But the Illini didn’t have enough.

The biggest hole is at running back, where Rashard Mendenhall bolted early to the NFL.

Saturday night, nobody stepped up to replace him. If Illinois is going to challenge for a Big Ten Conference title, or more, it’ll have to mount a stronger running game.

The defense might be problematic, too, although it’s tough to be sure. Mizzou sports one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation and piled up 549 yards. The Tigers’ front line allowed Illinois to get to Daniel only once.

Illinois has every reason to be disappointed in its performance, but not disheartened.

This is a good team, and a young one.

The Illini and this rivalry — which for a long time had little or nothing going for it in football — are looking good for the long haul.

KIRK WESSLER is Journal Star executive sports editor/columnist. He can be reached at kwessler@pjstar.com or 686-3216.